Flexible coupling for shafts.



P. H/TREAT. FLEXIBLE COUPLING FOR SHAFTS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1908.

999,917. Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

FRANCIS H. TREAT, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

FLEXIBLE COUPLING FOR SHAFTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 1, 1908.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911. Serial No. 436,062.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. TREAT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Couplings forShafts, of which the following is a specification.

The coupling of the present invention is intended primarily forapplication to shafting where individual sections thereof are mounted inindependent bearings which rigidly control their position and direction.Through inaccuracies of construction and variation in the nature of theservice to which the different sections of shafting are subjected, whichcause unequal wearing of the bearings, errors in alinement of a seriousnature are of common occurrence, and this is especially true inmachinery which is required to withstand severe service. In thesecircumstances, unless a coupling is employed which will permit eachsection to lie naturally in the position determined by its bearings,serious straining thereof and breakage is liable to occur.

The object of the present invention is to provide a coupling which willsecure complete rigidity as regards the transmission of rotative effort,or torsional stress, presenting a solidity of structure and freedom fromlost motion when revolved in either direction or suddenly reversed ascomplete as is possessed by the shaft itself. At the same time thecoupling provides a practically frictionless lateral mobility withinstated limits which is intended to compensate for a lateral displacementof the two shaft sections as is the case when they are offset or thrownout of alinement while maintaining axial parallelism. The coupling alsoserves to compensate a bending action as where the two shaft sectionsare out of parallelism and do not lie in the same direction.

The coupling is of especial utility in providing a connection betweenthe crank and flywheel sections of multi-cylinder gas engines, the cranksection having a number of cranks therein, and being mounted in severalbearings is very rigidly held to resist the excessive thrust from thecylinders and pistons, so that if the cylinders are arrangedhorizontally the bearings will be chiefly worn in that direction whilethe flywheel section, mounted upon two bearings, will be rigidly held bythe great weight of the flywheel as Well as the heavy rotating parts ofelectric generators, so that the bearings will be worn in a verticaldirection. In these circumstances it is plain that the two shaftsections will, in time, acquire more or less of a displacement fromtheir true positions with respect to one another. By the use of thepresent coupling the shafts can be safely operated When badly 'out ofline without loss of power, thus rendering it possible to couple severalshaft sections together so as to work a large number of cylinders upon asingle line of shafting to form large engine units.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinationof parts here'- inafter described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top or plan view of multi-cylinder gasengine generating sets embodying the coupling of the present invention;Fig. 2 a sectional elevation through the coupling showing the face ofthe intermediate member; Fig. 3 a cross sectional view of theintermediate member and hubs; Fig. 4 a sectional detail taken on line Hof Fig. 2, looking in the direc tion of the arrow; and Fig. 5 anenlarged edge elevation of one of the toggle plates.

The coupling comprises a pair of companion hubs 515 adapted to receivethe ends of an engine shaft 6, and a dynamo shaft 7 respectively in theparticular embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. l. The hubs are ofcylindrical tubular formation, and

each is provided on opposite sides with a' pair of forwardly projectingarms 8-8 which extend radially from the opposite sides thereof. hen theparts are assembled the arms of the companion hubs will occupyinterlocking positions and lie in the same transverse plane with respectto one another. The arms cooperate with an intermediate member 9 which,in the present embodiment of the invention, is in the form of a spiderring provided with four spoke arms 10 connected at the center 11; andthe spokes re positioned equidistant from one another and rest betweenthe ends of the companion hubs and intermediate the oppositely disposedforwardly projecting arms thereon. Each of the hub arms is provided withan outwardly extending grooved trunnion 12 which affords a mounting foroppositely extending frames 13, two of such frames being shown insection in Fig. 2. Each of the frames is of yoke shape comprising sidearms l t and a connecting cross head 15, which latter is inwardlyrounded at its in.- ner end to receive the rounded wall of the trunnions12. Each of the yoke arms 14f is provided with a hole 16 through whichis entered a pin 17 the outer end of which is entered within a socket 18on the inner wall of the surrounding ring. The opposite end of the pin17 is entered within a recessed lug 19 on the side of the adjacent spokeof the intermediate member.

In view of the fact that there are four pairs of frames connected withthe intermediate member, it is apparent that the frames will be arrangedin a square formation, and that the adjacent pins 17 will be set atright angles to each other through the corners of the square asindicated in Fig. 2. It further appears that the spoke arms of theintermediate member will extend diagonally with respect to the square.The spokes afford the only active part of the in termediate member, thecircular or ring shaped portion serving as a guard and reinforcement ofthe spokes, and to provide a smooth exterior casing. Each of the framesaffords a mounting for a plurality of elongated rocking plates 20 ofrectangular shape, the end edges 20 of which plates, as shown in Fig. 5,are rounded with respect to the flat faces of the plates, whicharrangement permits the plates to rock on their edges as a bearing. Theedges of each plate are preferably ground on the arc of a circle ofwhich the length of the plate rep resents the diameter, thereby enablingthe plate to serve as an anti-friction roller or rocker. In theconstruction shown four plates are carried by each of the yokes, andeach of the plates is provided with a hole 21, which holes register withthe holes 16 in the yoke arms all the holes being of slightly largerdiameter than the diameter of the pins 1.7, so that a certain amount ofclear ance will be afforded. The ends of the plates bear againsthalf-cylindrical bearing block 22 within a recess 23, into the mouth ofwhich recess the ends of the plates 20 are entered. The ends of thebearing blocks 23 are provided with half circular flanges 24, whichprevent endwise displacement. As shown in Fig. 4, the inside of the head15 of the yoke frame is inwardly beveled in opposite directionsintermediate the side walls, which beveled faces cooperate l with adoubly beveled inner bearing block 26, which lies intermediate the sidearms of the yoke and overlies the adjacent ends of the four toggleplates 20. Intermediate the beveled surfaces are entered a pair ofoppositely disposed wedges 27 which have a connecting bolt 28 enteredtherethrough, on the end of which bolt is located a nut 29, thear'angement being one whereby the plates can be held tightly against theflat surface of the bearing block 22.

hen the driving and driven shafts are in true alinement the rotativeeffort or torsional stress will be applied by the arms of the drivinghub and imparted therefrom through the plates to the intermediate memberin the direction of the drive. This effort, being longitudinally of theplates, will maintain the latter at right angle relation to the drivingtrunnions and the parts will be held with sufficient rigidity to preventany lost motion in the direction of the drive. The same is true of theplates which receive their impetus from the intermediate member andtransmit it to the trunnions of the driven hub, which arrangement givescomplete rigidity as regards the driving action of the mechanism, eitherin normal or in reverse direction. If, however, the shafts are out ofalinement by reason of original or acquired imperfections in thebearings, the driving and driven hubs will be thrown out of register toa greater or less degree with the consequence that the plates will beswung to a slightly oblique position with respect to the normal, causingthe plates of the same set to move endwise with respect to one another.When this condition obtains the plates will act as anti-friction rollersor rockers, each one swinging individually on its rounded end as anaxis, whereby the coupling will accommodate imperfections in alinementof the driving and driven shafts without loss of rotative effort andwithout appreciable friction.

The trunnions serve to compensate for any bending action as where theshaft sections are inclined with respect to one another, in which casethe curved ends of the yokes which engage the trunnions will permit ofvariations from normal due to such inclination. The bearing edges of theplates being truly ground and bearing upon truly flat and paralleledsurfaces, they will roll thereon when rocked or tilted with the greatestfreedom, no matter how tightly they are pressed together, and as theyare practically frictionless, when once adjusted by the ac tion of thewedges will remain permanently in condition. The purpose in having anumber of plates is to distribute the pressure upon a greater length ofcontact than could be obtained with a single plate similarly mounted.The semi-cylindrical bearing blocks 22 are automatically self-adjustingto conform to the general surface of the ends of the plates pressingupon them, the opposite blocks 26 being also self-adjusting withreference to an axis at right angles to that of the bearing blocks 22through the agency of the trunnions 12. This arrangement causes theblocks to at once adjust themselves to a perfect contact with both endsof the plates regardless of the size of the latter or the number used.

' lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A coupling, comprising a driving memher and a driven member, arms oneach of the members positioned intermediate one another, a spiderinterposed between the two members and having its arms intermediate thedriving and driven arms, a rocking connection between each of saiddriving and driven arms and the spider arms, said connection comprisinga yoke connected with the adjacent arm, and a plurality of rockingplates mounted within the yoke and engaging the spider arms and movableendwise with respect to one another, substantially as clescribed.

2. A coupling, comprising a driving member and a driven member, two armson each of the members positioned alternating one another, anintermediate member interposed between the two members and having armsintermediate the driving and driven arms, connect-ions between theintermediate memher and each of the arms of the driving and drivenmembers, said connections comprising yokes connected with the adjacentarms of the driving and driven members, a plurality of rocking platesmounted within each yoke and engaging the intermediate member andmovable endwise with respect to one another, and self-adjusting bearingblocks pivoted to rock within the intermediate member against which theends of the rocking plates bear, substantially as de scribed,

3. A coupling, comprising a driving mem her and a driven member, arms oneach of the members positioned intermediate one another, an intermediatemember interposed bet-ween the two members and having spokesintermediate the arms, a connection between each of the arms and theintermediate member, said connection comprising a yoke engaging theadjacent arm, a plurality of rocking plates mounted within the yoke andengaging the intermediate member and movable endwise with respect to oneanother, a self-adjusting bearing block pivoted to rock within theintermediate member against which the ends of the plates bear, and wedgeblocks within the yokes bearing against the opposite ends of the plates,substantially as described.

4. A coupling, comprising a driving member and a drlven member, arms oneach of the members positioned to alternate one an-- other, anintermediate member interposed between the two members and having itsarms intermediate the driving and driven arms, a connection between eachof the driving and driven arms and the intermediate member, saidconnection comprising a yoke connected with the adjacent arm, aplurality of rocking plates mounted within the yoke and engaging theintermediate member and movable endwise with respect to one another,abearing block within the intermediate member against which the ends ofthe plates bear, a bearing block within the yokes bearing against theopposite ends of the plates, and pins entered through the yokes and theplates mounted therein, said plates being retained by said pins,substantially as described.

5. In a coupling, the combination of two hubs, each provided with aplurality of inwardly extending arms positioned to alter nate oneanother, an intermediate member having arms entered between the firstmentioned arms, trunnions on the first men tioned arms, a pair ofoppositely disposed yokes engaging each of the trunnions and' rockerplates carried by the yokes and having their outer ends in engagementwith the intermediate member and movable endwise with respect to oneanother, substantially as described.

6. In a coupling, the combination of two hubs, each provided with aplurality of inwardly extending arms positioned to alternate oneanother, a spider comprising a ring having spokes entered between thearms, trunnions on the arms, a pair of oppositely disposed yokesengaging each of the trunnions. plates carried by the yokes, and arounded self-adjusting bearing block for each set of plates, socketedwithin the spider, against which the outer ends of the plates bear,substantially as described.

7. In a coupling, the combination of two hubs, each provided with aplurality of inwardly extending arms positioned alternate one another,an intermediate member having arms entered between the first mentionedarms, trunnions on the first mentioned arms, a pair of oppositelydisposed yokes engaging each of the trunnions, rocker plates carried bythe yokes, bearing blocks for said plates mounted in said yokes, bearingblocks within the intermediate member against which the other ends ofthe plates bear, and wedge blocks for adjusting one set of said bearingblocks, substantially as described.

8. In a coupling, the combination of two hubs, each provided with aplurality of inwardly extending arms positioned alternate one another, aspider comprising a ring havt through the yokes and the plates mountedtherein, substantially as described.

FRANCIS H. TREAT.

Witnesses P. J. VVARDNERT l 1 J OHN M. GEHRUNG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

